familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl 

-ˈmi-lē-əl

1

: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone

a familial disorder

2

: of, relating to, or suggestive of a family

has familial ties to the area

a familial atmosphere

Synonyms of familial

• household
• domestic

Examples of familial in a Sentence

The company has created a familial atmosphere in its offices.

it's a familial duty as well as a tradition for everyone in my family to eat dinner together

Recent Examples on the Web

While much of Hungered is concerned with familial relationships, Sofia's friendships are also central to her life. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

During a 2016 trip abroad, family members coincidentally met a former Arizona state senator who mentioned the possibility of using a forensic technique called familial DNA. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

This kind of familial conflict can also be quite disorienting as you’re left to wonder what might have caused such a strong and severe reaction from your son. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Tight, familial church communities, huddled in isolated villages and small towns; people held in place; a striking lack of privacy and liberty. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin familia

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing familial

• familial adenomatous polyposis
• familial hypercholesterolemia
• inter-familial

Kids Definition

familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl 

: of, relating to, or typical of a family

Medical Definition

familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl 

: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone

a familial disorder

compare acquired sense 1, congenital sense 2, hereditary